Gas-generating gas-fixture.



No. 628,365. Patented July 4, i899. .1. .1. suvmzn. GAS GENERATING GASFIXTURE.

(Application filed Sept. 8, 1898.]

(No Model.)

TNE mums PETERS w. Pnorauwa, WAsNmGrcu. u. c.

UNITED WSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. SNYDER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

GAS-GENERATING GAS-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,365, dated July 4,1899. Application filed geptember 8, 1898. SerialNo. 690,512. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. SNYDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado,have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas-GeneratingGas-Fixtures, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gas-generating gasfixtures-that is to say,fixtures capable of to generating gas from liquid hydrocarbons, mixingthe same with a suitable quantity of air, and delivering the mixture tothe ignitiontube; and it consists'in the peculiar and advantageousconstruction hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims appended.

In the accompanying drawings,- Figure l is the si deelevation, partlyinsection, of my improved gas-fixture. Fig. 2 is a detail section taken ina plane at right angles to Fig.

1 and illustrating the suspension mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail section illusv trating the vaporizing or generating tube and thegas and air mixing tube. Fig. 4. is a de- 2 5 tail plan view of aportion of the hydrocarbon reservoir, illustrating a modification. Fig.5 is a detail elevation illustrating the use of a torch to effect theinitial generation of gas. I

0 Referring by letter ;to said drawings, and more particularly to Figs.1 and 3 thereof, A

is a reservoir for liquid hydrocarbons, which has a filling-aperturenormally closed by a screw-plug Band also has a guide 0 at one side, andD E are upright tubes arranged about the proportional distanceillustrated apart and having inwardly-directed branches at their lowerand upperends, as illustrated. These tubes D E have'their lower endscon- 40 nected by a T with the lower 'end of an ignition-tube G, whichis arranged midway between them and is equipped with a burner H, mantleI,chimney-holder J, and chimney K after the manner common to this typeof 5 gas-fixture. The upperend of the tube E is closed by a coupling L,which connects it to a supply-pipe M and a gas generating or vaporizingtube N. Said coupling L has a pas sage P, effectingcommunication-between the supply-pipe and the generating-tube, and isprovided with a cock Q, which has for its purpose to control the passageof the liquid hydrocarbon to the generatingtube. The generating-tube Nis arranged in a horizontal position slightly above the chimney K, and,as shown in Fig. 3, it has a small passage S for the liquid hydrocarbon,which is tapered or gradually-reduced in size toward its outer end toprevent a too-free passage of the same and to allow a free back pressurecreated by expansion of the gas or vaporized hydrocarbon. The tubeNbeing about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, thus it afiords aheavy body of metal, which is adapted to retain the heat and render thevaporization of the hydrov carbon as regular and thorough as possible.

U is my improved gas-tip, which may be formedin one or more pieces andseparate from or integral with the chamber T, as desired, although Iprefer to form it in one pieeeqol'g and dctachably connect it to thesaid chamher, as shown. This tip U is provided with a minute centralaperture afor the escape of gas, and on its inner side it has a centralconeshaped projection b,which has for its purpose 7 5 to lessen theliability of sediment finding its way into the minute aperture a andpartially or completely closing the same. When it is remembered that thepartial stoppage of the aperture in the gas-tips of this type of fixtureresults in the light flickering and sometimes going out,which isfrequent in other fixtures, the" advantage of the projection 11 will beapparent.

T is my improved gas receiving or expansion chamber, formed by a sectionof tube which has its inner end interiorly threaded to engage thethreaded outer end of the-tube N. This expansion-chamber is made aslarge as practicable in order to hold a large quan- 9o tity of gas. Itis a decided ad vantage to have this expansion-chamber contain 'as largea space for the reception of gas as is practicable, for the reason thatwhile the fixture is in operation the vaporization of the hydrocarbon 5is at times irregular on account of the passage S in the vaporizing-tubebeing necessarilyso small and becoming partially'clo'gged at times byparticles of sediment and also unconsumed residue from the hydrocarbonat times collecting temporarily in said'passage and partially cloggingthe same. Therefore by having the expansion-chamber T to hold a largeamount of gas which is on storage and in reserve thus the flow of gasthrough the minute opening a is regular and steady, be-

' cause of the larger quantity of gas in reserve said chamber with thetorch.

in the chamber to be drawn from, and the regularity of the flow isthereby not disturbed by the temporary stoppage of the passage S, whichis common to like fixtures, causing the light to waver and flicker.Hence by reason of the enlarged expansion-chamber and by reason of thecone-shaped projection 11 my fixture produces a regular and a steadylight.

'The hydrocarbon as it passes through the tube N is vaporized orconverted into gas by the heat from the burner H, and in such form itescapes through the aperture (1 of the gastip U and, together with air,passes into the receiving end of the mixing-tube D. To facilitate theentry of the gas and air in proper proportions the tube D is providedwith a properly-flaring mouth V, the center of which is coincident withthe aperture a of the tip U, as shown.

In order to prevent ignition of the gas or vapor at a point between thetip U and the receiving end of the tube D while the expansion-chamber Tis being heated with the torch X for the initial vaporization of thehydrocarbon, (which would result in an explosion of the vapor in thetube D and the destruction of the delicate mantle 1,) I provide the saidtip U with a shield which is calculated to effectually prevent the gasbeing lighted at said point, thus preventing such explosion of gas inthe tube D and the destruction of the mantle.

A supply of hydrocarbon is not admitted through the cook or valve Q intothe vaporizing tube N and chamber T until the said chamber isheated withthe alcohol torch sufficiently to vaporize the hydrocarbon. Hence,ordinarily, no gas is generated while heating However, at times there isa small quantity of the oil or hydrocarbon in the expansion-chamber T,because of the cook or valve Q leaking or not being closed sufficientlytight to effectually cut off the supply of the same. IVhen such is thecase, sulhcient gas is generated during the process of heating saidchamber to destroy the mantle I if the gas or vapor is ignited at thepoint of the tip U after a small quantity of the vapor has escaped intothe tube D. Thus the shield \V efifectually prevents such explosion anddestruction of the mantle, which is so common to this class of fixtures.

In using the fixture an alcohol-torch X is hung from theexpansion-chamber T,as shown in Fig. 5, and after said chamber is heatedsulliciently to vaporize the hydrocarbon a supply of the same isadmitted into the said chamber by opening the cock Q, and the11ydrocarbon is immediately vaporized in the expansion-chamber and isdriven back a certain distance into the vaporizing-tube through thepassage S in said tube by reason of the expansion and pressure of thegas in said chamber. Thus a small stream of gas escapes with forcethrough the minute opening a into the flaring mouth of the mixing-tubeat V, and by the end of the said mixing-tube at V being properly flaredand its being the right distance from the minute opening a the properamount of air is thus taken into the receiving end of the mixing-tubeand mixed with the gas to produce perfect combustion, or, in otherwords, to produce an admixture of gas and air that will burn with a blueflame at the burner H when lighted, the mantle being off of the burner,and when the mantle is on the burner the blue flame brings the mantle toa state of incandescence and gives a bright light, and the combustionbeing perfect no soot or black spots will appear on the mantle.Returning to the point of starting to light the burner, when theexpansion-chamber T is sufficiently heated with the alcohol-torch tovaporize the hydrocarbon a supply of the same is turned on at the cockQ, and the torch is permanently removed from the fixture and is used tolight the burner II. \Vith this done the heat from the burner, acting onthe tube N, keeps the tube sufficiently heated to vaporize thehydrocarbon, and hence an ample quantity of gas is supplied to theburner as long as the same is lighted and the hydrocarbon lasts. 7

As will readily be appreciated from the foregoing, the main frame of myimproved fixture, being made up of the tubes or pipes D E, supply-pipeM, (all of which is ordinary gas-pipe bent into the proper shape,) andthe couplings connecting the same, embodies but a minimum amount ofmetal and of labor to form the same, and hence my fixture can beproduced very cheaply, which is a desideratum.

"With a view of permitting of the fixture being lowered when the burneris lighted or the reservoir A filled and afterward conveniently raisedto its normal position, I have provided the very simple and cheapsuspension mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This mechanismcomprises a rod 0, which rests in the guide C on the reservoir A and hasa hook at at its lower end engaging a hook e on the coupling L; apulleyf, connected to the ceiling of an apartment or some other suitablesupport; a cable g, of chain, heavy cord, or the like, taking over thepulley f and having a hook 7t engaging a book i at the upper end of rod0, and a ringj, connected to the cable g at an intermediate point of itslength and designed to be placed in engagement with a hook on coupling Lafter the manner shown in Fig. 2. The surplus portion Z of the cable 9is designed to enable ,a person standing on the floor to convenientlydisengage the ring j from hook 70 and, after moving the fixture asdesired, to conveniently replace the ring in engagementwith the saidhook k. WVhen not in use, the surplus portion of the cable may be coiledand hung on the hook m,which is provided on the tube E, as shown in Fig.1.

'lccause of the suspension-rod a being conto move a slight distance awayfrom the rod 0, and the lower portion of the frame moves acorrespondingly-slight distance to the left, causing the fixture as awhole to rest slightly out of the perpendicular. This I prevent by theuse of the guide (see Fig. 4) in lieu of the guide 0. Said guide Ccomprises a body p, which is connected to the reservoir and has threeseats gr 5 at various distances therefrom for the reception of the rodc, and akeeper t, connected in a hinged manner to the body p anddesigned to have its free end detachably secured thereto by a pin or theIn order to balance the lamp perfectly and keep it perpendicular, itissimply necessary to place the rod 0 in the seat q of the guide Oflwhenthe reservoir is full or almost full, in the seat 0" when the reservoiris about half full or less, and in the seat .9 when the reservoir isalmost empty.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that my improvedgas-fixture is-very simple and may be sold with profit for such a priceas will place it Within the reach of all. While this is so, the lamp ishighly efficient in operation and affords a strong, steady, and a veryeconomical light.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. A gas-generating gas-fixture comprising an'elevated reservoir, asupply-pipe depending therefrom, parallel upright tubes havinginwardly-directed branches at their lower ends, a burner arrangedbetween the upright portions of said tubes and connected with thebranches thereof, a horizontal, vaporizing or generating tube arrangedabove the burner and having one of its ends arranged adjacent to one ofthe upright tubes and provided with a restricted discharge, and itsother end connected with the adjacent upright tube and the supply-pipe,and a suspension-rod connected at its lower end with the vaporizingtube,the supply-pipe and one of the upright tubes, and also connected at anintermediate point of its length to the side of the reser voir,substantially as specified.

2. A gas-generating gas-fixture comprising an elevated reservoir havinga guide at its side, a supplypipe depending from said reservoir,parallel upright tubes having inwardlydirected branches at their lowerends, a

burner arranged between the upright portions of said tubes and connectedwith the branches thereof, a horizontal vaporizing or gas-generatingtube arranged above the burner and having one of its ends arrangedadjacent to one of the upright tubes and provided with a restricteddischarge, a coupling connecting the other end of the vaporizing-tube,the other upright tube and the supply-pipe, and a suspension-rod restingin the guide on the reservoir and connected at its lower end to saidcoupling, substantiallyas specified.

3. The combination with a gas-generating gas-fixture comprising anelevated reservoir having a guide at one side, and a frame arrangedbelow and connected to the reservoir and having a hook 7c; of a rodextending through the guide on the reservoir and connected at its lowerend to the frame, a pulley adapted to be connected to ceiling or thelike, a cable passed through the pulley and connected at one end to therod, anda ring connected to the cable at an intermediate point in thelength thereof and adapted to be placed in engagement with the hook onthe frame, substantially as specified.

4. A gas-generating gas-fixture comprising a reservoir having a guide atits side; said guide being made up of a body having a plurality of seatsat various distances from the reservoir and a keeper pivotally connectedto the body at one end and having its other end adapted to be detachablyconnected thereto, a supply-pipe depending from thereservoi a frameconnected to the supply-pipe, and a suspension-rod connected to theframe and adapted to be arranged in the seats of the guide,substantially as specified.

5. In a gas-generating gas-fixture, the combination of a burner, ahorizontal vaporizing or generating tube disposed above the burner andhaving a minute discharge-aperture in one end and also having the shieldXV surrounding said end; the said shield having for its function toprevent flame from a torch from reaching and igniting the gas as itleaves the dischargeaperture of the generatingtube, and a mixing-tubeconnected with the burner and having one end arranged adjacent to thedischarge end of the vaporizingtube, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnes'ses.

' JOHN J. SNYDER. Witnesses:

JOHN P. BRODERICK, HARRY T. HORNER.

